India
‘An observation can…’ What Vice President Dhankhar said about SC’s ‘caged parrot’ remark on CBI – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday advised the judiciary to refrain from any observation that could dampen the spirits of the government. government agencies and initiate a political debate.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Samvidhan Mandir at Elphinstone Technical High School and Junior College in Mumbai, the Vice President said there was a need to be “extremely cautious” about the country’s institutions which are robust and operate independently under the rule of law with adequate checks and balances.
“All the organs of the judiciary, legislature and executive of the state have one objective: to ensure the success of the fundamental spirit of the Constitution, guarantee all rights to the common people and help India flourish and prosper. They must work together and together nurture and prosper democratic values and constitutional ideals. An institution is well served if it is aware of certain limitations. Some limitations are obvious, some limitations are very fine, they are subtle. Let these hallowed platforms – judiciary, legislature and executive – not be trigger points of politically inflammatory debate or narrative that is detrimental to the established institutions that serve the nation well in a challenging and discouraging environment,” Dhankhar said.
“Our institutions, all kinds of institutions, electoral commissions, the research agencies that carry out their tasks under difficult conditions, an observation can discourage them. It can trigger a political debate. It can trigger a story. We must be extremely aware of our institutions. They are robust, they work independently, they are under control. They work under the rule of law. In that situation, if we work in a way just to generate some sensation, to become a focal point or an epicentre of a political debate or a story that I will appeal to those involved, that is completely avoidable,” he added.
This comes days after a Supreme Court judge noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation should reject the notion that it is a “caged parrot”.
“In a functioning democracy governed by the rule of law, perception matters. Like Caesar’s wife, an investigating agency has to be above board. Not so long ago, this court criticised the CBI by comparing it to a parrot in a cage. It is imperative that the CBI does away with the idea of a parrot in a cage. Rather, the perception should be that of a parrot without a cage,” Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said while granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged liquor scam.
Following the judge’s remarks, the Aam Aadmi Party launched a strong criticism of the BJP-led central government and Home Minister Amit Shah. Delhi Chief Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called for the resignation of the Home Minister, arguing that the Supreme Court remarks raised questions about his leadership.
“The Union Home Minister should resign as this raises questions in his mind. The Supreme Court called the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) a parrot in a cage,” Bharadwaj told the media after the high court verdict.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Samvidhan Mandir at Elphinstone Technical High School and Junior College in Mumbai, the Vice President said there was a need to be “extremely cautious” about the country’s institutions which are robust and operate independently under the rule of law with adequate checks and balances.
“All the organs of the judiciary, legislature and executive of the state have one objective: to ensure the success of the fundamental spirit of the Constitution, guarantee all rights to the common people and help India flourish and prosper. They must work together and together nurture and prosper democratic values and constitutional ideals. An institution is well served if it is aware of certain limitations. Some limitations are obvious, some limitations are very fine, they are subtle. Let these hallowed platforms – judiciary, legislature and executive – not be trigger points of politically inflammatory debate or narrative that is detrimental to the established institutions that serve the nation well in a challenging and discouraging environment,” Dhankhar said.
“Our institutions, all kinds of institutions, electoral commissions, the research agencies that carry out their tasks under difficult conditions, an observation can discourage them. It can trigger a political debate. It can trigger a story. We must be extremely aware of our institutions. They are robust, they work independently, they are under control. They work under the rule of law. In that situation, if we work in a way just to generate some sensation, to become a focal point or an epicentre of a political debate or a story that I will appeal to those involved, that is completely avoidable,” he added.
This comes days after a Supreme Court judge noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation should reject the notion that it is a “caged parrot”.
“In a functioning democracy governed by the rule of law, perception matters. Like Caesar’s wife, an investigating agency has to be above board. Not so long ago, this court criticised the CBI by comparing it to a parrot in a cage. It is imperative that the CBI does away with the idea of a parrot in a cage. Rather, the perception should be that of a parrot without a cage,” Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said while granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged liquor scam.
Following the judge’s remarks, the Aam Aadmi Party launched a strong criticism of the BJP-led central government and Home Minister Amit Shah. Delhi Chief Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj called for the resignation of the Home Minister, arguing that the Supreme Court remarks raised questions about his leadership.
“The Union Home Minister should resign as this raises questions in his mind. The Supreme Court called the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) a parrot in a cage,” Bharadwaj told the media after the high court verdict.
